Figuring it out one day at a time.

My thursday rant….Free Day at the Zoo = Free Loaders: I don’t think so

Recently, our local Kansas City Zoo offered a free day of admission as a thank-you to tax payers for helping support the zoo.

Given that I have two young children and not a lot of money, this is something that I was interested in.

Unfortunately, due to other plans, we were unable to attend.

What gets me is what was said about the people who would attend such a day.

A little backup…

The free day at the zoo received some bad press.

Apparently it was incredibly crowded, some people got into a fight, teenagers were standing around and blocking paths for parents with strollers, and other people were dropping their trash.

I concede that none of this is appropriate behavior, adults fighting at a family establishment is pathetic and people throwing trash is lazy. Teenagers standing around and not noticing other people…well, they are teenagers. Once upon a time you didn’t realize other people existed either.

But this is what got me.

I was listening to our local talk show station on my way home from school, Dana & Parks at KMBZ.

And by the time I got home I was rather irritated.

According to Dana & Parks people who attend a free day at the zoo are obviously free loaders, “white trash”, “don’t pay taxes”, and are a general drain on society.

I think it is wonderful that Dana & Parks in all of their upper middle class glory can easily attend the zoo on a full admission day, but not everyone can, and that doesn’t make us free loaders.

I pay my taxes, thank you.

I work full-time, I go to school, and I raise two boys.

I think it is fair to say that I am not lazy.

I am respectful to others.

I pay all my bills.

And I have never received government assistance.

And for you to make a public assumption that I am some sort of degenerate, lazy, drain on society because I would attend a free day at the zoo makes me sad for you.

I would attend a free day at the zoo because I am a good mom.

I would attend a free day at the zoo because I am responsible with my money.

And lastly I would attend a free day at the zoo so that I would not have to spend a second with you upper-middle class, too good, snobby arse.

I am sorry that some people chose to act like idiots on a free day at the zoo, but that does not make all of us who would take advantage of free admission white trash, non-tax paying, freeloaders.

The zoo here in St. Louis is always free, if you can find a place to park. Unrelated, there was a fight there the other day among a group of teens that can be found on youtube. It makes the city look bad, just like your radio station makes KC sound bad. Why accentuate the negative and not talk about the positive?

It does make us look bad! And I know that some people were obviously not of the best character, and that totally stinks, but what about all of the people that get to go to the zoo who would not normally get to go. How awesome is it that the zoo even offers these free admission days. I think sometimes people just like to rip on other people because it makes them feel better about themselves.